Jan 14, 2012
Pedigree Politics: Why I Am Not Voting for Noynoy
By Carmina Flores-Obanil
“I accept the plea of the people. I accept the advice of my parents… I accept the responsibility to continue the fight for the people. I accept the challenge to lead in this fight. I will run in the coming elections.”
Senator Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino
Announcement of Aquino’s presidential bid for 2010
The Ampatuan Massacre brought to fore a lot of issues on Philippine politics. But most significantly it emphasized how the continuing reign of certain political families in their respective areas breed too much power in the hands of a few. How this power corrupts and how this power results in impunity has been demonstrated by this shocking event, stressing the need to condemn and consistently challenge such conditions and power relations.
For me, the massacre also reflects one of the big reasons why I am not convinced that Noynoy Aquino should be President. Well, not yet anyway.
Dominated by Clans
For generations, a few prominent and wealthy families have dominated politics in the Philippines, and given the roster of candidates that have risen so far, the 2010 elections will only show that the situation has not changed. In almost all of the provinces and cities, political clans have lorded over their respective bailiwicks, with new names emerging but only to establish their own dominance once they have ousted the ruling family. (Please see below the list of political clans in the Philippines.)
List of Political Clans in the Philippines[i]
These political clans have persisted despite the express prohibition against political dynasties in the 1987 Constitution.
“The State shall guarantee equal access to opportunities for public service, and prohibit political dynasties as may be defined by law.” Article 2 – Declaration of Principles and State Policies, Sec.26.
A Cojuangco and an Aquino
Noynoy Aquino, of course, comes from a very prominent political family. A Cojuangco on his mother’s side and an Aquino on his father’s side, Noynoy is probably the best example of a political scion, belonging to powerful clans that have been in politics for as long as we can remember. In fact, for the 2010 elections, Noynoy’s main contender, the administration’s bet, Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro, is also his cousin from the Cojuagnco side. Noynoy, and Gibo, are also nephews of Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco, the key, ‘king-maker’ power behind the Nationalist Peoples Coalition (NPC). (NPC is the same party, which was said to be initially supportive of Francis “Chiz” Escudero’s erstwhile bid for the presidency.)
When President Corazon Aquino died, I was almost sure, but half-afraid, that Noynoy would run for president. I was half-afraid that the dissatisfaction of the Filipino people with the current administration would be contrasted with the overwhelming love and support that poured out for the late President Cory Aquino; That it would trigger not only a comparison between the late President Aquino and President Arroyo; That in a country so disgusted with the corruption, a country clamoring for change, people would latch on to the idea that only another Aquino could turn this country around.
And I was not wrong.
After Kris Aquino’s eulogy for President Cory Aquino saying that she and Noynoy are in a position to continue their parents’ struggle and legacy, the deal was virtually sealed. The day after Cory’s funeral mass, the draft for Noynoy as President has started. Within a couple of weeks, Noynoy indeed announced his presidential bid.
Game Changer
For weeks, Noynoy’s candidacy was the hot topic, only eclipsed later on by the Ondoy and Pepeng tragedies. “Noynoy fever” took hold of everyone. People from all walks of life, surprisingly even those considered already jaded in politics, even progressives and activists, are suddenly endorsing Noynoy’s bid for the presidency and jumping into the Noynoy for president bandwagon.
Columnist Alex Magno called Nonoy Aquino a “game changer.” And indeed Noynoy’s sudden foray into the presidential election has changed the whole May 2010 election scenario. For one, a lot of people voluntarily shelved their ambitions for presidency. Senator Mar Roxas, Pampanga Gov. Among Ed Panlilio, Isabela Governor Grace Padaca, are but a few of those whose names have been pitched for the presidency but who have decided to back out and give way to Noynoy’s candidacy. For those who are still running, Noynoy’s candidacy meant reviewing the campaigns they have waged so far and upping their own ante to counter what can only be described as an avalanche of support for Noynoy’s bid.
It did not help that the poll surveys (also fueled perhaps by the sudden withdrawal of Senator Mar Roxas who was originally the Liberal Party’s standard bearer for the 2010 presidential race) had Noynoy Aquino surging ahead with a 51 percent lead against other known presidential wannabes. In a Social Weather Station’s poll on Sept. 5-6, Noynoy’s 50 percent ratings reduced that of Sen. Manuel Villar to a mere 14 percent, former President Joseph Estrada to 13 percent, Sen. Francis Escudero to 12 percent, and Vice President Noli de Castro to 7 percent. Accordingly, the polling was done in Metro Manila, Pangasinan, Central Luzon and Calabarzon where 40 percent of registered voters are located. These poll surveys in fact caused shock waves, and as mentioned above forced other political parties to review their own roster of possible candidates and for the other undeclared but known presidential aspirants to reassess their campaigns.
Pedigree Politics
Unfortunately many of those who have jumped the Noynoy bandwagon seemed to have swept the term credentials i.e. competence, track record, under the rug. A blog I read even suggested that Noynoy’s candidacy should not be a question of competence but more of values, integrity, preservation of democracy, and the fact that Noynoy has no ambition and intention to remain in power should he become President.
But there’s the rub. Except for the fact that Noynoy comes from a perfect background, supposedly in the best position to continue the fight started by his parents, Noynoy has yet to offer a coherent platform that will mark him as a serious candidate.
In fact, the articles describing his presidential bid as “rising from the shadows” or “out of the shadow of his mother” are apt. He has always lived in the shadow of his more illustrious parents, Ninoy and Cory Aquino. After President Cory Aquino died, and the idea of having Noynoy run for the presidency has been pitched, a text message made the rounds saying that “even at death, Cory Aquino made sure that she will leave a legacy for her son.” And it is indeed a legacy, Cory Aquino’s death and the commemoration of Ninoy Aquino’s death last August made people long for democracy, made people remember EDSA 1, made people see Noynoy for the first time, even though he has actually been around in politics longer.
Noynoy has served three-terms in Congress and one-term in the Senate. Except for his opposition to the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA), he hardly made waves during his congressional and senatorial stint. Per record, he has authored nine (9) bills which tackle government procurement and corruption, human rights, worker’s rights and benefits and presidential appointees. But he hasn’t supported other equally crucial policies like the CARP Extension with Reforms (CARPER) bill.
In fact a lot of farmer’s groups, and advocates of agrarian reform and rural development, are still grappling with, or even opposing, Noynoy’s bid, precisely because of his abstention in CARPER and his not-so acceptable response on how to resolve the issue of Hacienda Luisita. I do not agree with veteran analyst Amado Doronilla’s praise that “he (Noynoy) has grabbed the bull by the horns of a social issue—the Hacienda Luisita issue.”
Noynoy’s statement was that the “Cojuangco-Aquino family was “beginning to think” of “leaving” the 6,400-hectare estate because of losses resulting from continuing labor dispute.” Personally, I don’t see this as an acceptable resolution to the Hacienda Luisita issue. Rather than saying this, Noynoy should issue a statement on distributing Hacienda Luisita under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP), declaring that he will do what it takes to convince his family and see this process through. This is what ‘grabbing the bull by the horns’ calls for.
There are a few who are arguing that the issue of competence is not an issue in this election but rather the preservation of democracy, integrity, honesty in governance and unselfish dedication to the people. I do not agree. The above-mentioned values are indeed important but competence is a big issue that Noynoy must address. After all, Noynoy is no novice when it comes to politics, as aptly pointed out by political analyst Randy David.
With just a few months left before the actual elections, Noynoy Aquino must prove his own worth. Beyond his pedigree and the legacy left by his parents, he must be able to declare what he stands for, what he would fight for, what his programs are, etc.
Probably, then, I can convince myself to vote for him. Of course, my being an Iglesia ni Cristo (and our bloc-voting behavior) is another crucial element whether or not Noynoy will get my vote. But that, I think, calls for another musing.
http://en.wikipilipinas.org/index.php?title=Political_Dynasties Table on Political Families, accessed 7 December 2009.
Reference (from WIKIPILIPINAS)
Sheila Coronel. ‘The seven M’s of dynasty buidling’. Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism. March 14, 2007
Julio Teehankee. ‘And the clans play on’. Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism. March 7, 2007
Elmer Ordonez. ‘Political dynasties and clan alliances’. The Manila Times. May 13, 2007
Isagani Cruz. ‘End political dynasties’. Philippine Daily Inquirer. April 28, 2007
Mio Cusi. ‘Political dynasties a quirk of democracy’. The Manila Times. March 8, 2004
‘Antonio J. Montalvan II’. Dynasty on their mind. Philippine Daily Inquirer. April 9, 2007
Efren L. Danao . ‘Dynasty’ definition a poser to the House. The Manila Times. November 13, 2006
“List of Names Considered Part of the Political Dynasty by Roger Olivares.”(accessed on December 18, 2007).
“Family Ties.” (accessed on December 20, 2007).
Mga Diskurso ni Doy Part I: Listahan ng mga Political Clan mula Appari-Jolo (accessed December 26, 2007).
Mga Diskurso ni Doy Part II: Malulupit na Political Clan ng Visayas (accessed December 26, 2007).
Mga Diskurso ni Doy Part III: Mga Astig at Palabang Political Clan ng Mindanao (accessed December 26, 2007).
Iloilo: A Deluge of Candidates and Musical Chairs (accessed January 2, 2008).
Clans still rule in 14th House but fewer in ranks (accessed January 4, 2008).
More young reps in but old bunch still in House (accessed January 4, 2008).
Sunstar – Clan politics rules in Pangasinan polls (accessed January 4, 2008).
The Politics of Malabon: Political Clans That Span The Seas and Other Stories by Aya Fabros, IPD Democracy Watch, posted April 29, 2004 (accessed January 4, 2008).
(Published in: Focus on the Philippines December 2009, http://focusweb.org/oldphilippines/content/blogsection/8/6/9/9/)